(Pictured: Kip Schulties, Kipp Schulties Golf Design, golf course architect; Mark Snure, General Manager, Riviera Country Club; and Eric Von Hofen, Director of Agronomy & Building Maintenance for Riviera Country Club)
On Jan. 30, the Riviera (Fla.) Country Club reopened its renowned golf course after completing its most ambitious golf course renovation to date. The $8 million project delivered one of the most modern and unique golf course designs in South Florida featuring dramatic elevation changes and the addition of nearly three acres of lakes, among other updates to the course.
The Riviera Country Club worked with the golf industry's leading course architect and designer, Kipp Schulties Golf Design, a multi-dimensional golf services firm with a staff of design and planning experts committed to developing championship-quality golf course facilities; industry leader in course development, QGS Development, who recently worked on Trump National Doral's Red and Gold courses; and Buzz Jaskela Landscape Architects.
In addition to new Celebration Bermudagrass and a state-of-the-art irrigation system, once complete, the course also features 15- to 18-foot tee boxes, elevations not normally seen in South Florida. Other landmark areas that will be improved include:
--A state-of-the-art water conservation/irrigation system was installed to conserve water and energy.
--A spectacular two-acre lake was added along with another half-acre lake.
--Greens were rebuilt to USGA specifications and enlarged for a variety of pin locations.
--Fairways and roughs were replanted with the new, stronger Celebration Bermudagrass.
--Fairways were re-contoured to enhance playability in the landing areas.
--Non-native foliage was replaced with native plants.
